Android ListView CHOICE_MODE_MULTIPLE, how to set checked index?

I'm using the cool feature of the ListView to show a checkbox next to the item in the ListView.
I bind my list to an array of strings.
The onClick and onSelectedItem listeners get called fine, in this way I know the index of the "string" checked (or unchecked).

I'm storing all the checked strings into preferences (as a comma-concatenated-string), and everytime the activity becomes visible I would like to set the checked items back in the listview.

Is there a way of doing it? or the CHOICE_MODE_MULTIPLE doesn't allow to set the checked items?

note: I'm not using a custom view, since what I want to display is just a string and a checkbox. I've tried setSelection(index) but it should set the onlyone selected (highlighted) row.